Mechanism for applying box covers



3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Feb. 20, 1923.`

J. c. THOM. MECHANISM FOR APPLYING BOX COVERS.

FILED JAN. 26, 1921 Feb. 20, 1923.

l. C. THOM.

MECHANISM FOR APPLYING BOX COVERS.

3 SHEET SHEET 2.

FILED JAN. 26, |921- ATTGRNEVS Feb. 20, 1923. 1,446,359.

1.c.THO|v|.

MECHANSM FOR APPLYING` BOX COVERS.

FILED JAN. 26,1921. 3 SHEETS-SHEET ATTURNEYS yio sr'rss T F F JAMES C. THOM, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TOA COMBINATION MACHINE COMPAN'Y, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

MECHANISM FOR APPLYING BOX COVERS.

Application led January 26, 1921.

To all whom it may conce/m.'

.Be lit known that I, JAMES C. THOM, a

citizen of the United States, and resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mechanism for Applying Box Covers, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to mechanism for automatically applying covers to a succession of boxes and includes` besides the mechanism for actually applying the covers, mechanism for properly feeding and arranging the covers Iand for feeding the successive boxes to the point of cover application and means for removing the covered boxes from the application point and disposing of them in a desirable way.

The general object of the invention is toprovide related mechanisms for the purposesmentioned which are entirely' automatic, and which have high out-put capacity and are simple and durable in structure.

More particularly stated the objects are to provide means for feeding and arranging box covers supplied in any suitable way, for example directly from the cover making ma chine, discarding superiuous covers and covers which arel in undesirable positions and rehandling these discarded covers,

bringing the covers into initial relation with the boxes, which are well exemplified by such commodity boxes as round, shallow snur1 boxes, which are filled before being moved to the cover applying position, applying the covers automatically, advancing the covered boxes in suitablearrangement, and separating suitable groups o f boxes for convenience in packing. The characteristics and advantages of the invention will be best understood after considering the physical embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings and described hereafter; and after considering this embodiment it will be evident to skilled persons that many changes ma be made in details as well asin combinatlons and sub-combinations of parts, also thatcertain parts or sub-combinations of the entire invention are useful in themselves apart from others; and I contemplate the employment of any structures which are Serial No. 439,974.

properly within the scope of the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. l is a view mainly in side elevation,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical sec-tion on 60 the line 3-3, Fig. 1. A

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional detail on the line 4 4, Fig-2. Y

Fig. 5 is an enlarged v'iew mainly in elevation and partly in section, of the cover applying mechanism. A

Fig. 6 is a top plan, enlarged, of that part ofd the mechanism included vbetween the points 646, Fig. 1.'

Fig. 7 is a side elevation, enlarged, of the 70 package group separating mechanism.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged transverse section of the same.

VF ig. 9 is an enlarged detail of the means for initially receiving the covers and supplying them to the initial feed belt.

Fig. lO is an elevational detail yof the cover conveying channel.

The machine is specially well adapted to apply covers to such boxes as the round, y

shallow, or short cylindrical snuff boxes B, best shown in Fig. 5, the cylindrical bodies 0f which are provided with bottoms A by mechanism with which this invention is not concerned. Thebodies B are usually of 85 paste board and the bottoms A arevusually of paste board or fibre. These boxes are filled with the desired commodity,such as snu, by filling mechanism which is also apart from the presentinven'tion, and it is desired 90 to automatically apply covers C to the boxes. These covers are preferably of tin stamped or die pressed into the form best shown in Fig. `4, in which one of the covers is shown in inverted position. Each of the covers consists ofl a round body Vportion or top 10 and a shallow annular wall orflange 11.y rll`he invention is not restricted to handling boxes and covers of the identical character and shape described and the materials may also be varied. The particular example given is one which shows the adaptation of the present machine to 4.existing forms of y `arc shaped box engaging face 22, and a,

containers and covers which are veryv desirable and efliciently handled by a machine of my invention with great economy over cover applying methods and devicesheretofore employed. I

My invention comprises in the present embodiment mechanism designated in general by reference characterl D, formoving a succession of filled boxes B to cover applying mechanismiE; mechanism F for initiallyreceiving, conveying, arranging, discardin and selecting covers C and mechanism for removing and conveniently arranging in suitable groups thel covered boxes.

The mechanisms D, E and G are desirably grouped as shown in Fig. 1, in which sup.

ports 12 carry longitudinal frame members 13 and 14.4 Uprights 12 provide bearing supports for shafts 15, 16, on which are mounted, between the supports, sprockets 17 (see Figs. 1 and6).- A chain 18 runs on these sprockets and at intervals box supports` 19 are connected tobcertain of the chain b-locks (see also Fig. 5). EachA of these box supports or carriers comprises a base 20, a rear flange 21 having a curved or front flange 23 having a diagonal box directing face 24. The base 20 also has a central downwardly directed flange 25 secured to a chain block, or to cert-ain ofthe chain rivets by plates 26l and screws 27a. The flanges 21 and 23 with their faces 22 and 24 provide openings into which box bodies may be inserted laterally, one into each of the carriers 19, and when so inserted the body is engaged by the curvedfront face 22 of the rear flange -21 and advancedto the discharge point of the chain. After being placed in the carrier vthe boxes are further ,supported and guided by L-shaped guide rails 26 (Fig. 6) -having bottom flanges 27 which project beyond the carriers and si'de flanges 28 which are' spaced apart slightly farther than the diameter of the boxes, these angle plates forming a channel through which the boxes are conveyed by the carriers.

After filling in a'separate filling machine, or by hand operations, the filled boxes B are placed on the upper stretch 28, (Figs. 1 and 6) of .a conveyor-belt which runs in a direction transverse the movement of conveyor chain 1,8. This belt is carried on suitable pulleys at its ends and is suitably driven 1n any convenient manner, the pulley supports and driving means bein-g omitted in the drawing. Conveniently the upper stretch 28* of the belt may be supported by a shelf or table 30 and the lower stretch 31 of the belt may be supported by a shelf 32. At. Ala; suitable point' adjacent to the cover applying `mechanism E a short conveyor belt 33 is arranged parallel to chain 18 and with one end supported by a pulley 34 so that the receiving end of this' belt lies under the edge of belt 28a. The shaft of pulley 34 is supported by frame members 35. The other end of belt 331is carried by a pulley 36, whose shaft is supported in bearings in uprights 37 resting on frame members 13.` `A guide `rail;40 isarranged above the upper stretch of belt 33. near one edge thereof and another vguide rail 41 is arranged above the other edge of the belt. Rail 40 has an angular portion 42 extendingabove the upper stretch of belt 28a and the curved portion 43 formin lone side of a box channel leading to a discharge point -where the boxes are introduced into the carriers 19. Guide rail 41has a'portion 44 c xtending alongside of belt 28 and the'main Iformed between rails 4() and 41 and at the entrance of this channel the boxes slide .off the edge of belt 28a onto the surface yof belt-33. The boxes are broughtl 'into contact in the guide channel and the movement of belt 33 in connection. with the curved portion 43 of rail 40 moves the foremost box in the row onto the next approaching carrier 19, the box being easily locatedk on the carrier between the suitably formed faces of flanges 21 and 23, previously described. The` boxes .now advance a short distance to the point at 'which the covers are applied. Since the proper arrangement and presentation of covers at theapplication point is an essential feature of the complete invention,mechanism for these purposes will now be described.

A supply of covers C is maintained in a hopper 50, Fig. 9, and desirably the-covers may be .supplied to 'the' lhopper by ai spout 51, which is in the present instance the discharge spout of a cover making machine. In the hopper the covers are brought in contact with the upwardly inclined portion 52 o'f the initial coverl conveying belt 53. The inclination of belt stretch 52 is-provided by relative arrangement of pulleys 54 and 55 and the return stretch 56 within thel hopper may also be properly directed by a pulley 57. The belt pulleys have their shafts located in suitable bearings supported by suitable frame members, 'these details being omitted for the sake of simplicity. Adjacent to the pulley 55 a suitable arranging device for 'the covers is located consisting in/130 l the present example of a cylinder 60 mountstraight guide channel.

vstretch of the belt lpreviously described.

ed on a shaft 61 and driven in any convenient manner. This cylinder is supplied with suitable means, such as flaps 61 of leather or other suitable material, (or in some cases brush bristles may be provided) and the cylinder is arranged at such a distance from belt stretch 52 that covers which lie flat on the belt are permitted to pass under the cylinder, but covers which are tilted or unduly elevated by lying one upon another, will not pass the cylinder or its flaps and these improperly positioned covers are knocked or ,kicked back into the hopper for rehandling by belt stretch 52. The cylinder 60 is driven so that its lower portion travels in the direction opposite to that of the adjacent belt, as indicated by the arrow.

Above the upper stretch of belt 53 at a suitable point (Fig. 2) is located a guide rail 65 which co-operates with another guide rail 66, located near one edge of the belt. Rail 66 has a straightv portion 67 parallel to the belt edge and a diagonal portion 68. Belt 65 has a portion 69 parallel to a part of rail member 67, these ortions of the two rails constituting a siort Rail 65 also has a diagonal portion 70 -forming in co-operation with the adjacent part of rail 66 a converging entrance to 'the channel just mentioned. Rail 65 also has another diagonal portion 71 co-operating with diagonal part 68, of rail 66 and forming a diagonal continua'-4 tion of the guide channel, which is of a width only slightly greater than the diameter of the covers. Rail 65 hasl another straight portion 72 and rail 66 has a parallel -straight portion 73 forming a channel which is a continuation of the diagonal guide channel and parallel to belt 53 near@ its edge. An auxiliary belt 75 is arranged with its upper edge parallel to that of belt 53 and close to it. This auxiliary belt is supported by pulleys 76 and 77, suitably supported on any convenient frame members, such as 78. A portion of'the upper 75 underlies the straight channel formed between rail members 72 -and 73. The belts maybe of any suitable material, but desirablyv in one embodiment of the invention belt- 75 may be of canvas for reasons later explained.

The lbox covers C approach diagonal rail member 70, distributed indiscriminately across the face of the belt, and either side up, but all arranged singly kand flatwise upon the belt by the arranging device The cover edges strike the diagonal guide member 70 and are moved over toward rail member 67 and then pass in single alinement througlLthe straight channel between rail members 69 and 67 and then through the diagonaal channel between members 71 and 68 and in this movement they pass from the main belt 53 to auxiliary belt 75 and proceed thereon to a point 80 where rail 66 is interrupted giving access from one side of belt 75 to a discharge hopper 82. llf the dcover applying mechanism is stopped for any reason while the supply of covers to belt 53 continues, the cover channels beyond the point 80 will shortly become filled and covers will tend -to pile up adjacent to the discharge point and any such surplus accumulation will crowd the covers off of the belt so that they fall into hopper 82 and are conveyed away in any convenient manner, for instance through the chute 83, Fig. 1, to the upper surface of the return stretch 56 of belt 53; and suitable means (not shown) are provided for removal of these returned or discarded covers to hopper 50 for resupply to the upper stretch of t-he belt.

At a point justbeyond hopper 82 Aan enclosure is arranged above belt 75V and an adjacent portion of belt 53, this 'enclosure comprising a rail member 85 (seealso Fig.

4) located along the edge of belt75, a rail lmember 86 and the coverv strips are carried by transverse strips 89 having angular portions 90 secured to rail member 85. Substantially above the adjacent edges of the two belts is a short rail member 91 forming a division between two channels of which one is between rail 91 and rail 85 above belt 75 and the other .is between rail 86 and rail 91 above the adjacent portion of belt 53, each of these channels being slightly greater in width than the diameter of the covers., A cover selector consisting in the present case of a brush 95 is locatedxin the enclosure for the purpose of selecting and passing on for use the covers which are arranged in the desiredposition, in the present case with their open sides up, and rejecting the covers which arel arranged i'n the other position, that is with open side down. This brush comprises a cylindrical body 96 carried by a shaft 97, mounted in bearings 98 carried by any suitable frame members such as 99 and driven in any convenient manner, for instance by a pulle 100 and belt 101. The brush body is supp ied with a plurality of clumps of bristles 102 trimmed to cylindrical contour.

yThe brush is driven in the direction ot' the I' the engagement of its wall edge of relathe tively small area with the canvas surface of belt. Such covers, therefore, pass straight ahead on belt 75 and between rail f stretch 56 of belt 53, or these-rejected covers are returned in any other convenient way to the feed hopper 5 f Covers which are arranged in the manner desired yfor the present purpose approach thebrush with theiropen sides up, as shown in full lines' in Fig. 4, and the brush bristles enter the open side of the cover and are engaged against the annular wall 11 at the left as viewed in Fig. 4 and exert a quite positive grip upon this wall of the cover and, therefore, vigorously move these properly positioned covers over upon belt 53, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4, where they strike against rail member 86 and arfA advanced by belt 53 between that rail mennberand rail member 91 to a point beyond hopper 106 where these covers, now all positioned with the same side up, are diverted back to belt 75 by an angularly arranged rail member 110, and in this movement the ali'nement of the covers mayalso be preserved by a cooperative 'angular member` 111.

From this point the covers are caused to travel substantially half-way about the periphery of belt pulley 77 and are guided in this movement by curved rail members 120` and 121 which are bstantially continuations ofrail members 110 and 111 and by a perlpheral guide member 122 secured 'to members 120 and 1.21 by strips 123. The covers then arrive with open sides down upon a downwardly inclined surface 124 which.

forms a continuation of guide member 122 and fall by gravity into a chute 128 ofl any convenient construction 'by which the covers are guided in a single row in edgewise contact, to the applying mechanism at E. Since the chute 128 is of such considerable length,

as is often necessary inthe proper locations of mechanisms F and E, that the column of covers in the chute would have considerable weight which would interfere with the proper feeding of the covers to the applying mechanism, the chute ma have, as shown in Fig. 10, stretches 129 an l130 ,arranged at a considerable angle to each other, and the number of these angularly arranged portions may be increased as may be necessary to relieve the lower portion of the cover column of weight to any desired extent. 'The lower portion of the chute is usually curvedi to approximately horizontal position beyond the point 131.

Adjacent to f the applying position the vand 6) a top strip 135, a bottom strip 136 and side strips 137, the various strips being secured together by cross pieces 138. The bottom strip 136 terminates at 140 at a point close to the top of the box body B approaching in one of the carriers 19l and the top strip 135 terminates at 141 a short distance back of the termination of strip 136. A cover placing member 145 is pivoted at 146 to a bracket 147 secured to a top channel strip 135. This placing member has an angular face 150 opposing the advancing edge of the .cover as it emerges from the-ends of channel strips 135 and 136. Member 145 is of lsuitable weight, or is suitablyweighted, or itmay'be pulled down with` spring pres sure,\so that the foremost edge of the cover is tilted down and its liange or side wall is substantially hooked'over the advancing upper edge of the adjacent box body B. -The further movement of thebody then draws the cover forward along with it and placing member 145 is raised suiiciently to permit the cover to pass below it and at the same time presses the cover approximately Vinto position on the Ybox. As the box passes away the angular face 150 drops somewhat and depresses the forward edge of the next ad# vancing cover until its wall or flange lies below the end 14() of lower channel member 136 in the path of the next advancing box.

In this way the boxes, advanced 1n continuous series as previously described arev each supplied with a cover and in fact act, descriptively speaking, to each draw its own cover out of the cover lchannel and these covers are initially located onl the boxes by the co-operative action of the placing member`145.

It is desirable alsoto provide means for accurately locating the boxes and covers in lateral relation to each other at the moment of cover application. In the present case this is provided for as follows: Vertical guide anges 28 are interrupted at 160 to accommodate lateral presser members 161' which are carried by arms 162 pivoted at 163 to frame members 164. The arms 162 are drawn toward each other by a spring 165 and their inward movement-is limited by adjustable stop screws 166, the inner ends of which engage the outer sides of guide flanges 28 adjacent. theA openingsl 160. As a on the next box and coverand also assist the placing member in catching and retainsuitable frame member,

ing the next advancing cover in position for application.

The covered boxes are then desirably brought beneath a presser plate 170, which has an upwardly curved end 171 to guide the covers downward and press them firmly upon the boxes. Plate 170 may also be ,desirably associated'with a pressing roll 175, the lower surface of which is accommodated by a slot in plate 170 so that the roll may bear upon the box tops an\d press them firmly in position, in addition to the pressing action afforded by plate 170. Conveniently the presser plate and the pressing roll may be associated inthe following way: An arm 177 is pivoted at 178 in uprights 179. This armis slotted to receive the roll 175 and the roll is mounted on a shaft 176 having bearings in thel sides of the arm. The arm also carries vertical posts or struts 172 to the lower ends of which the presser' plate 17 0 is connected. In this way the roll and the presser plate are fiexibly or pivotally mounted at the point 178. A weight 180 may be provided to increase the pressing effect of the plate androll and adjustable stops, such as screws 173 may be provided, these being mounted in a transverse extension of the presser plate and arranged to bear upon a such as the upper edge of the vertical flanges 28 of guide rails 26, this portion of the guide rail being shown breken away in Fig. 1 for the sake of clearness.

The properly covered boxes are now advancing in a spaced row .on the carriers 19. It is desirable to shift the boxes so that they .Will lie in contact in fiatwise relation or substantially in a column and then to divide this column into groups' of the same number. of boxes for convenience in subsequent operations. For these purposes the following 'mechanism is provided inl the presentembodiment: Above shaft 16, is a shaft 200 (F ig. 1) and to the rear of these shafts is another shaft 201, these shafts be- Y ing supported in bearing in suitable fra-me members. Each of the shafts 16, 200 and 201 has a pair of sprockets 204. spaced apart from each other, the pair of sprockets 204 on shaft 16 being additional to thesprocket 17 previously mentioned and being arranged one at each side' of said sprocket. A conveyor chain 206runs over each set of three sprockets consisting ofthe sprockets 20e-in one vertical plane, lthus providing two conveyor chains running one at either side of the rear end of conveyor chain 18. Opposite blocks of'chain 206 are provided at regular intervals with prongs 208, the two prongs on opposite blocks of/ the two chains constituting a pair of fingers, the` fingers of successive pairs being spaced apart to accommodate" between them one of the covered boxes. As each box 1s advanced toward the rear end of chain 18 itis brought between two of the pairs of fingers 208 and is elevated and moved about .the axis of shaft 200, the boxes being laterally guided in their vertical movement by a channel consisting of separate strips 210. The upper Astretches 212 of the conveyor chains 206 are downwardly inclined. At about the time downward angle of the conveyor chains and the last movement imparted to each box by the fingers brings it into contact with the box last released so that the boxes are formed on the rails 215 in a column or row R and each succeeding box pushes the row forward one box width. VThe boxes may be removed in'this row formation in any suitable way, but more conveniently they are separated' into groups of a suitable number. For this purpose movable rails 220 connected by a spacer 221 are arranged below and between the inner edges of rails 215 and normally the upper edges of rails 220 are out ofv contact'with the edges of the boxes, as shown -one of these shafts may be driven by achain 228 from shaft 16. Spacer 2 21 has a downwardly extending lug 230 provided with a roller 231 engaged by a shifting fork 232 carried by an arm 233 pivotally mounted at 234 and this arm or another connected arm 235 is'connected by a link 236 with a crank 237 on shaft 16.4 By the chain connections described shafts -'226 and their rolls 222 are rotated in properly timed relation to the travel of conveyorchains 206. At each rotation ofthe'cam rolls their cam extensions 223 elevate the shifting or separating frame andthe upward movement of this frame elevates as many boxes of the row R as lie over it at the time, this number being aflwaysthe same owing to the uniformity of.

spondingly and finally setdown by the action of the cams upon rails 215g-The shifting frame is then moved back again in venient or desirable.V` It has 'not been at-V 262,- and thislna'y be driven from shaft 263` lowered position ready to raise and ad- Vance an'otler'group of boxes the previously advanced groups -which still remain u on rails 220 being yat the'same time again shi ted forward and the spacing between them being maintained. This spacing is to enable an attendant to more easily grasp groups of boxes of the roper number for packing or wrapping.l i htboxes areshownin each of the groups ably varying the driving connections between the shafts'16 and the roll shafts 226.

To provide for the necessary travel'of the shifting frame over the forward cam roll the rails 220 are desirabl provided 4with forward extensions 240 o reduced height, the reduction in height of the upper rail surfaces b eingl sufficient to prevent engagement with boxes in the row R forward of the point 241 at lwhich a shoulder is formed, the upper surfaces of rails 220` being at a higherfelevation from this point to 'the rear ends of the rails. The shoulders24-1, therefore, in the present instance determine the pointin the irow'R- at which a section of the row `will be lifted and moved) forward,

at .each operation yof the shifting frame.

Various moving parts of the machine may be driven lin different ways, as may be` contemptedtoshow driving connections forall of the parts,.,s1nce these connections may be greatly varied. WhenLthe 'apparatus is used 1n, a place where va line shaft is"avail able,'4 `for instance, pulleys may be applied to the line shaft and-belt drives arranged from these .pulleys to any desired lparts fof the lmechanism. Driving arrangements -preferred in lcertain casesfor certain rparts of the-mechanism are, however, shown inthe presentv embodiment. -An electric motor- 250 supported on frame merribers 251, de pending from 'longitudinal frame i members 13 may be connected by a belt 252 to a pulley 253` on a shaft 254. This shaft isv connected by Iintermediate reducing` gearingy 255,

'1256, 257 4and 2581130 a` shaft-5259, 'which connected'by a belt, or more desirably byfa sprocketV chain 260 to shaft 200. This shaft drives conveyor chains 206 and through them' f drives shaft 16 and conveyor chain 18 on which the box supports are mounted. Belt- 101 previously mentioned,.which drives sef lector brush95 may' be connected to.` a pulley on which pulle 77' of vauxiliary' belt '75 is mounted, by suitable vgear and chain connections, such-as chain 265 connecting sprockets on shaft 263 and a shaft267, and bevel gears 268 .connecting shaft 267 and-the shaft '269 of ulley 262. Pulley shaft 263 also the'A sha ts of pulleys for driving conveyor belts, 'i '28 and 33, may. bef driven in any suitable way," for instancernm a countershaft or.

in the present instance, but v lthe number of boxes mayr be varied by suitlast-named conveyor. Box handling `meclianism comprising a lconveyor' belt onI countershafts (not shown) or by suitable connections to motorI 250. Since such driving arrangements may be varied in accordance with well known principles of machine design, they are not here shown in detail,

My complete invention, therefore, comprises means for properly arranging and advancing box covers, selecting covers which are in desirednpositions .and rejecting others, advancing the selected coversin proper sequence toA an applying point, advancing boxes to the applyingpoint,` applying the covers to the boxes, and insuring their proper location on the boxes, and then advancing the covered boxes and shifting them into endwise colunm arrangement and then also,

desirably separating the row into j groups one box bodof a givenvsize arranged widthwise of the elta second conveyor belt moving below the 4first belt and substantially at a right angle thereto, guide means arranged above the belts for 1diverting-:boxes advancing in Airregular widthwise distribution on 'the first belt and placingthem on the second belt and guiding them thereon in a'single frow, cover applyingimeans, and means for` directing boxes from said secondfbelt tothe lcover applyin means.v i

2. Box han' ling and cover applyin mechanism,'compr1sing a conveyor belt o substantial4 width onwhich filled boxes are vplaced in indiscriminate lateral positions, a transverse .conveyor channel for guldmg boxes.` in a single row arrangement, a' second conveyor belt mov-ing" beneath said channel and beneath theirstvnamed belt, means for ldiverting'boxes from the first named belt A tosaid channel upon said second nalmed belt. a' conveyor having spacedvv box receptacles, said channel being conformed to divert boxes laterally into said receptacles, and

and i coverA applying whichifilled boxes 1 are placed in irregular lateral' J-positions,f'another conveyor belt transversely arranged, l l

ciated withthe vlast named belt to guide -boxes in a singlerow toward av 'covery applying point, an -angulardeliector above the belt first fmentioned todefiect boxesfrom it' tothe second belt and guide means, and

v"means at thecovena'pplying, for ap covers to successive boxes.

plyill ^`4. ox cover'applymg mechanism com- ,cover applying mechanismi'adjacent to the guideA means assoprising a conveyor having spaced box supports, means for inserting a filled box 1n each support, a cover chute for supplying a row of flanged covers in similar arrangementl to a cover applying position over the conveyor, and cover applying means comprising a movable member engaging the covers as they emerge from the channel and serving `to tip the forward edge of the foremost cover down and engage its fiange with the edge of an advancing box, and additional means for pressing the covers in position.

5. Box cover applying mechanism comprising a conveyor having spaced box supports, means for inserting a. filled box in each support, a cover chute for supplying a row offllanged covers in similar arrangement to a cover applying position o-ver the conveyor, and cover applying meansl comprising a movable member engaging the covers as they emerge from the channel and serving to tip the forward edge of the foremost cover down and enga-ge Iits flange with the edge of an advancing bo-x, said member also being larranged to additionally press the cover into position, and additional means for pressing the covers in position.

6. Box coverx applyingmechanism comprising la continuous linear conveyor having spaced box supports, each support having box 4engaging members arranged to provide a lateral box entrance, means for inserting a box in each support through the lateral entrance, a chute for conveying a series of flanged box covers in similar arrangement under feed pressure to the neighborhood of' the conveyor,y and la pivoted applying member |having an angular face cooperating with the covers to effect initial engagement Awith the cover. of each advancing box.

7. Box cover applying mechanism comprising acontinuous linear conveyor having spaced box supports, each support having box engaging members arranged to provide a lateral box entrance, means for inserting a box in each support through the lateral entrance, a chute for conveying a series of flanged box covers -in similar arrangement under feed pressure to the neighborhood of the conveyor, and a.pivoted applying member having an angular face co-operating with the covers toefect initial engagement withthe cover of each advancing box, the

applying member also serving to addition` ally locate the cover on the box in its further advance.

8. Box cover applying mechanism comprising means for ladvancing a series of filled boxes in edgewise spaced relation, means for applying covers to successive boxes, and means for bringing them together in a row in flatwisecontact.

9. Box cover applying mechanism comprising means for advancing a series of filled boxes in a spaced row in substantially horizontal positions, means for applying covers to successive boxes, and means for turning the boxes and bringing them together in a. row in substantially vertical positions.

10. Box` cover applying mechanism comprising means for covering and advancing a series of boxes in edgewise spaced relation, means for bringing them together in a row in flatwise contact, and means for separating and advancing successive sections of the box row.

11. Box cover applying mechanism comprising means for covering a series of boxes and advancing them in a spaced row in substantially horizontal positions, means for turning the boxes and bringing them together in a row in substantially vertical positions, and meansfor separating and advancing successive sections of the box rows.

12. Box handling and-cover applying mechanism comprising a conveyor having supports on which filled boxes are advanced in substantially horizontal positions in a spaced series, means for applying covers, and another conveyor having means for elevating and turning the boxes to approximately vertical position:

13. Box handling-v. and cover applying mechanism comprising a conveyor having supports on which filled box bodies are advanced in substantially horizontal positions in a spaced series, means for applying covers, another lconveyor having means for elevating and turning the boxes to ap-.

proximately vertical position, and a longitudinal support on which boxes are delivered by Said second conveyor.

14. Box handling and cover applying mechanism comprising a conveyor having supports on which boxes are advanced in substantially horizontal positions Lin a spaced series, means for applying coversl another conveyor having means for elevating and turning the boxes to approximately vertical position, a longitudinal supp'ort on which boxes are delivered in a row by said second conveyor, and means for engaging successive sections of the box row and advancing such sections inv spaced relation.

15. Box handling and cover applying mechanism comprising a conveyor having spaced box supports on` which a series of boxes are advanced in substantiallyhorizontal positions, means for applying covers to boxes advanced on said supports, a sec- 0nd conveyor having box engaging fingers to receive successive boxes delivered by the first'conveyonelevate and turn the boxes to vertical position, and parallel vrail supports on which boxes are advanced in contact in a row as they are delivered by the second conveyor.

16; Box handling and cover applying mechanism comprising a conveyor having spaced box supports on which aL series of boxes are advanced in substantially. horizontal positions, means for applying covers to boxes advanced on said supports, a second` conveyor having box engaging fingers to receive successive boxes delivered by the first conveyor, elevate and turn the' boxes to 'vertical position, parallel rail supports on which boxes are advanced in contact in a row as they are delivered by the second conveyor, a row section separator comprising rails for engaging the loweredges of a section of the box row, and means for alternately raising, advancing, lowering and retrac-ting said separator.

17. Box handling and cover applying mechanism comprising, mea-ns for advancing box bodies in a row, means for applying covers to the boxes, a pair of' parallel rails for supporting a row of the covered boxes in contact, means for supplying 'boxes at one end of the rail support, and a row section separator for engaging successive sections of the box row and advancing such sections in spaced relation.

18. Box handling and cover applying mechanism comprising, means for advancing box bodies in a row, means for applya ing covers to the boxes, a pair of parallel series .of boxes andcover supply mechanism comprising a first conveyor belt on which.v

covers arefadvanced in irregular lateral dis'- tribution and either side up, a second parallel belt, means for deflecting covers from the first belt to the second belt and arranging .them on the second belt in a single row, and

rails for supporting a row of the covered boxes in contact` means for supplying boxes at one end of the rail support, and a roW section separator for engaging successive sections of the box rovv and advancing such sections in spaced relation, said separator comprising connected rails adapted tov engage the lower'edges of -the boxes .of such sections, roll supports for theseparator, means for driving the rolls, cams for elevatving the separator, and means for reciprocating the separator.

19. Box cover applying mechanismcomprising means for advancing and covering a series of'boxes and cover supply mechaeral distribution and either side up, a second parallel belt, and means for defiecting covers from the firstr belt to the second belt and arranging them on thel second belt in a single means for diverting back to the first belt covers which are arranged one side up and permitting the covers Which are arranged the other side up to continue-on the second beltto a discharge point.

22. Box cover applying mechanism comprising means for advancing and covering a series of boxes and cover supply mechanism comprising a first conveyor belt on which coversare advanced 1n irregular lateral-distribution and either side up,'a second parallel belt, means for deflecting covers from the first belt to the second belt and arranging them on the second belt in a single row, and means -for engaging covers Which are open side up and diverting them to the first belt While permitting covers which are arranged open side down to ycontinue to a discharge point.

23. Box cover applying mechanism comprising means for advancing and covering va series of boxes and cover supply mechanism comprising a first conveyor belt on Which covers are advanced in irregular lateral distribution and either side up, a second parallel belt, means' for deflecting covers from the first belt yto the second belt and arranging them on the second belt in a single row, means for engaging covers which are open side up yand diverting them to thefirst belt while permitting covers which are arranged open side down to continue to a discharge point, and means for conveying diverted covers in a single row to a point of cover application.

24. Box cover applying mechanism comi prising means for advancing and covering a series of boxes and cover supply mechanism comprising a belt on which covers are conveyed either Aside upy in a single row, means for selecting `rcovers which are arranged'vvith, the same side up and rejecting covers otherwise arranged, and means for conveying selected covers to the point of cover application.

` 25. In mechanism of the class described,

in combination with means for advancing regular lateral' distribution and either side up, means for rejecting covers which are out of the normal plane of advance, means for selecting the covers which are one side vup and rejecting those which are the other side up, and means for advancing the selected covers 1n a row 1n edgewise Contact tojward cover-applying posltion.

26. -In mechanism of the class described, the combination with means 'for advancing a series of filled boxes, of a cover channel delivering covers adjacent to the boxes, a movable member having a beveled face for initially applying a cover to each advancing box, and a weighted roller vfor pressing the covers firmly in position upon the boxes.

27. In mechanism of the class described, the combination with means for advancing ya series of filled boxes, of a cover channel bodies in a row and forwarding them in' spaced relation past a covering station, means for forwarding vand selecting indiscriminately arranged boxf tops and advancing tops all with the same side in the same relative positionf to the covering station, means at the covering station for applying tops to successive boxes, and means for delivering the covered boxes in successive separated groups.

29. A machine for covering boxes, arranging box parts and arranging the covered boxes, comprising means for ad- Ivancing box bodies in indiscriminatelateral arrangement, means for arranging such bodies in a rowand forwarding them iu spaced relation past a covering station, means -for forwarding and selecting indiscriminately arranged box tops and advancing tops all with the same side in the same relative position to the covering station, means at the covering station for applying tops to successive boxes, and means for d eliveringthe covered boxes in a row and 1n separated groups.

30. A machine for covering boxes, arranging bx parts and arranging the covered boxes, comprising means for advancing box bodies in indiscriminate lateral arrangement, means for arranging such bodies in a row and forwarding them 1n substantially horizontal position and in spaced i relation past a covering station, means for forwarding indiscriminately arranged box 'topsand selecting tops ,and advancing tops all with the same side in the same relative position to the covering station,`means at the covering station for applying tops to successive boxes, and means 'for delivering the covered boxes in .substantially vertical position and ina row in contact.

31. A machine for covering boxes, arranging box .parts and arranging the covered boxes, comprising means for ad!- vancing box bodies in indiscriminate lateral arrangement, means for arranging such bodies in a row and forwarding them in substantially horizontal position and in spaced relation past a covering station, means for forwarding indiscriminately arranged box tops and selecting tops and advancing tops all with the same side in the same relative position to the covering station, means at the covering stationA for ap? plying tops to successive boxes, and means for delivering the covered boxes in vertical or edgewise position and successive separated groups.

32. A machine for covering boxes, -ar ranging box pants and arranging the covered boxes, comprising means for advancing box bodies in indiscriminate lateral arrangement, means for arranging such bodies in a row and forwarding them in substantially horizontal position and in spaced` relation past a covering station, means for forwarding indiscriminately arranged box tops and selecting tops and advancing tops all with the same side in the. same relative position to the covering station, means at the covering station for applying tops to successive boxes, and means for delivering the covered boxes in a row and in separate groups withthe individual box of each group in contact and in substantially vertical or edgewise position.

33. A machine for covering boxes, arranging box parts and arranging the covered boxes, comprising means for forwarding filled boxes in substantially horizontal position and in indiscriminate lateral 110 distribution, means for arrangingl the filled boxes in line and advancing them in spaced relation past a top applying stationfmeans for advancing flanged box tops in indiscriminate arrangement, means for reject- 115 ing superposed or overlapped tops, means for selecting tops arranged with the same side upward and rejecting others, means for advancing the selected tops in a rowto the top applying station, means at said sta- 12o tion for applying the tops to successive boxes, and means for delivering the covered boxes in spaced groups.

Signed at Chicago in the county of Cook 'and State of Illinois this 22nd day of '125 

